From: Extropian Agro Forestry Ventures Inc. (megao@sk.sympatico.ca)
Date: Thu Jan 16 2003 - 12:02:44 MST
Statistically, Scandanavians in more stressful environments have
neurological susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. Any connections?
"Robert J. Bradbury" wrote:
> Well, it appears to be raining shoes again. For the last
> decade or so (ever since I found out iron was a contributing
> (pro-oxidant) factor for DNA damage), I've speculated that
> there should be negative consequences with respect to cancer
> and aging for people who have hemochromatosis (a genetic
> condition that causes excessive iron accumulation in the body).
>
> This recent report based on work from researchers at UNC
> (Chapel Hill) seems to confirm this:
>
> Iron Overload Gene Tied To Colon Cancer Increased Risk
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/01/030116074236.htm
>
> It raises some interesting questions about whether our friends
> in scandinavian countries, where the HFE gene mutations seem
> to be more common, should be promoting both national testing
> programs and chelation therapy to lower iron levels.
>
> It is also worth noting that the regulation of iron absorption
> and retention may be one of the classic examples that could be
> cited regarding genetic mis-programming by evolution. Women lose
> iron every month -- men (at least in non hazardous environments)
> do not. So a robust genetic program should regulate iron absorption
> and retention under the influence of sex hormones (e.g. estrogen
> or testosterone). To my knowledge that has never been demonstrated.
> Though I've never seen any evidence to support it -- periodic
> iron loss might be one of the reasons women live, on average,
> longer than men.
>
> Robert
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